discurso in 30 Sekunden
- Discurso is a masculine noun meaning 'speech' or 'discourse'. It is used for formal talks at events like weddings or political rallies.
- In grammar, it distinguishes between 'discurso direto' (direct quotes) and 'discurso indireto' (reported speech), which is vital for intermediate learners.
- Beyond simple talking, it represents a system of ideas or a narrative, such as 'discurso de ódio' (hate speech) or 'discurso acadêmico'.
- Common verbs used with it include 'fazer' (to make) and 'proferir' (to deliver), the latter being more formal and sophisticated.
The Portuguese word discurso is a multifaceted noun that primarily refers to a formal, structured communication. At its most basic level, it translates to 'speech' or 'address' in English. However, its semantic range extends far beyond a simple talk at a podium. In linguistic and sociological contexts, discurso refers to the way language is used to construct meaning within a specific social or historical framework—what academics call 'discourse'.
- Formal Speech
- A prepared talk delivered to an audience, such as a political speech or a graduation address.
- Linguistic Discourse
- The set of statements and practices that produce knowledge and meaning in a particular field (e.g., medical discourse).
- Reasoning
- The process of logical thought or the sequence of arguments presented in a text.
"O presidente fez um discurso emocionante sobre a paz mundial durante a assembleia."
When we talk about discurso, we are often discussing the intentionality behind words. It is not just about 'speaking' (falar), but about the 'architecture' of what is said. A discurso has a beginning, middle, and end; it has a purpose, a target audience, and a specific tone. In the modern era, the term is also used to describe the prevailing narrative in society, such as 'discurso de ódio' (hate speech) or 'discurso ambientalista' (environmentalist discourse).
"O discurso acadêmico exige um vocabulário preciso e referências sólidas."
"Não entendi o discurso dele; pareceu muito confuso e sem lógica."
- Discurso Direto
- Direct speech (quoting someone exactly as they spoke).
- Discurso Indireto
- Reported speech (paraphrasing what someone said).
"O autor utiliza o discurso indireto para narrar os pensamentos da personagem."
"O discurso de ódio deve ser combatido em todas as plataformas digitais."
Using discurso correctly requires understanding the verbs that typically accompany it. In a formal setting, you don't just 'say' a discourse; you 'deliver' or 'proffer' it. The most common verb is fazer (to make), but proferir (to deliver/utter) is more sophisticated and appropriate for official ceremonies.
- Fazer um discurso: The standard way to say 'to give a speech'.
- Proferir um discurso: A more formal alternative, often used in news reports or academic writing.
- Escrever um discurso: To draft the text of a speech.
- Analisar o discurso: To perform discourse analysis, looking for hidden meanings or power structures.
In grammatical terms, discurso is essential for narrative structure. If you are learning Portuguese grammar, you will encounter Discurso Direto (Direct Speech) where you use quotation marks or dashes to show exactly what someone said: Ele disse: "Vou embora.". In contrast, Discurso Indireto (Indirect/Reported Speech) adapts the sentence: Ele disse que iria embora. Mastering the transition between these two is a key milestone for B1-B2 learners.
Another important usage is in the phrase discurso de ódio (hate speech). This is a legal and social term used globally. You might also hear discurso vazio, which refers to 'empty talk' or rhetoric that lacks substance or genuine intent. When someone speaks eloquently but says nothing of value, you can say: "Foi apenas um discurso vazio para ganhar votos."
You will encounter the word discurso in various spheres of Portuguese-speaking life. Its presence is most felt in formal environments, but its implications are everywhere.
1. Political and Civic Life
Turn on the news in Brazil or Portugal, and you will hear about the discurso do Primeiro-Ministro or the discurso de posse (inaugural speech) of a president. Political analysts often discuss the 'mudança de discurso' (change of rhetoric) of a candidate during an election cycle.
2. Academic and Professional Settings
In universities, Análise do Discurso (Discourse Analysis) is a major field of study within Linguistics and Communication. In business, a CEO might deliver a discurso de abertura (opening speech) at a corporate conference or an annual general meeting.
3. Social Ceremonies
At weddings (casamentos) or graduations (formaturas), it is customary for someone to 'pedir a palavra' (ask for the floor) to make a discurso. These are usually emotional and personal, focusing on shared memories and future wishes.
4. Media and Social Justice
Discussions regarding discurso de ódio are frequent in the media, especially concerning social networks and legal regulations. You will also hear about discurso inclusivo or discurso hegemônico in debates about social change and power dynamics.
Even though discurso seems straightforward, learners often trip over its specific usage compared to other 'speaking' words.
- Confusing 'Discurso' with 'Fala': While both relate to speaking, fala is the act or faculty of speaking (e.g., 'A fala humana'). Discurso is the structured content. You wouldn't say "O presidente fez uma fala" in a formal context; you would say "O presidente fez um discurso."
- Using 'Discurso' for a casual conversation: If you are just chatting with a friend, you are having a conversa or bate-papo. Calling it a discurso would sound like you are accusing them of lecturing you or being overly formal.
- Gender Errors: Some learners assume words ending in '-o' are always masculine (which is true here), but they might confuse it with other abstract nouns. Remember: O discurso (masculine).
- Preposition Misuse: When saying a speech is 'about' something, use sobre. Example: "Um discurso sobre a economia," not "um discurso de a economia."
Another mistake is translating 'discourse' from English academic texts too literally without checking if 'discurso' fits the specific Portuguese academic tradition, though usually, they align well in the context of Foucault or Pêcheux.
To enrich your vocabulary, it is helpful to know words that share the same semantic field as discurso but carry different connotations.
- Palestra: Usually translated as 'lecture' or 'talk'. It is less formal than a discurso and usually has an educational or informative purpose.
- Sermão: Specifically a religious 'sermon'. In a figurative sense, it can mean a long, boring lecture or a scolding from a parent (e.g., "Levei um sermão do meu pai").
- Oração: In a formal rhetorical context, this means a solemn speech (like a 'funeral oration'). Note that in common usage, it means 'prayer' or 'sentence' (grammar).
- Alocução: A very formal, brief speech, often delivered by an authority figure.
- Pronunciamento: An official statement or declaration, often made by a government official to the press.
- Fala: The most general term for speech or the act of speaking.
Choosing the right word depends on the level of formality and the setting. If you are in a classroom, it's a palestra. If you are at a political rally, it's a discurso. If you are in a church, it's a sermão.
How Formal Is It?
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Wichtige Grammatik
Transposição de tempos verbais no discurso indireto
Uso de aspas e travessão no discurso direto
Concordância nominal com substantivos masculinos
Regência verbal do verbo 'discursar'
Uso de conectivos para coesão discursiva
Beispiele nach Niveau
O discurso do professor foi curto.
The teacher's speech was short.
Masculine noun 'o discurso'.
Eu não gosto de discurso longo.
I don't like long speeches.
Adjective 'longo' agrees with 'discurso'.
O presidente faz um discurso hoje.
The president makes a speech today.
Present tense of 'fazer'.
O discurso é na televisão.
The speech is on television.
Preposition 'na' (em + a).
Um discurso de amor.
A speech of love.
Use of 'de' to indicate theme.
Ela ouve o discurso.
She listens to the speech.
Verb 'ouvir' (to listen/hear).
O discurso começou agora.
The speech started now.
Past tense 'começou'.
Meu discurso está pronto.
My speech is ready.
Possessive 'meu'.
Ele fez um discurso muito bonito no casamento.
He made a very beautiful speech at the wedding.
Compound sentence with adverb 'muito'.
Nós escrevemos o discurso juntos.
We wrote the speech together.
Past tense 'escrevemos'.
Você entendeu o discurso dele?
Did you understand his speech?
Question form.
O discurso de abertura foi às nove horas.
The opening speech was at nine o'clock.
Time expression 'às nove horas'.
Ela não quis fazer o discurso.
She didn't want to make the speech.
Negative with 'querer' in past tense.
O discurso foi sobre a escola.
The speech was about the school.
Preposition 'sobre' (about).
Eles aplaudiram o discurso final.
They applauded the final speech.
Verb 'aplaudir'.
O discurso foi traduzido para inglês.
The speech was translated into English.
Passive voice 'foi traduzido'.
O político mudou seu discurso para ganhar votos.
The politician changed his rhetoric to win votes.
Use of 'discurso' as rhetoric/narrative.
É importante evitar o discurso de ódio na internet.
It is important to avoid hate speech on the internet.
Infinitive 'evitar' after 'é importante'.
O diretor proferiu um discurso inspirador para os alunos.
The director delivered an inspiring speech to the students.
Formal verb 'proferir'.
No discurso indireto, mudamos os tempos verbais.
In indirect speech, we change the verb tenses.
Grammatical terminology.
O discurso dele não condiz com suas ações.
His speech does not match his actions.
Verb 'condizer com' (to match/align with).
Preparei um pequeno discurso para a festa de despedida.
I prepared a small speech for the farewell party.
First person past tense 'preparei'.
O discurso foi focado na sustentabilidade ambiental.
The speech was focused on environmental sustainability.
Past participle 'focado'.
Todos ficaram em silêncio durante o discurso fúnebre.
Everyone remained silent during the funeral oration.
Adjective 'fúnebre'.
A análise do discurso revela as intenções implícitas do autor.
Discourse analysis reveals the author's implicit intentions.
Abstract use of 'discurso'.
O discurso populista costuma simplificar problemas complexos.
Populist discourse usually simplifies complex problems.
Adjective 'populista'.
Houve uma clara contradição no discurso da empresa.
There was a clear contradiction in the company's discourse.
Noun 'contradição'.
O orador dominava a arte do discurso como ninguém.
The speaker mastered the art of discourse like no one else.
Imperfect tense 'dominava'.
O discurso científico deve ser baseado em evidências.
Scientific discourse must be based on evidence.
Modal 'deve ser'.
A mídia reproduz o discurso das elites econômicas.
The media reproduces the discourse of the economic elites.
Verb 'reproduzir'.
O discurso de formatura emocionou pais e professores.
The graduation speech moved parents and teachers.
Verb 'emocionar'.
Ela criticou o discurso vazio dos candidatos.
She criticized the empty rhetoric of the candidates.
Collocation 'discurso vazio'.
A desconstrução do discurso hegemônico é fundamental para a crítica social.
The deconstruction of hegemonic discourse is fundamental to social criticism.
Academic terminology.
O texto transita entre o discurso poético e o jornalístico.
The text transitions between poetic and journalistic discourse.
Verb 'transitar'.
A interdiscursividade enriquece a compreensão da obra literária.
Interdiscursivity enriches the understanding of the literary work.
Advanced linguistic term.
O discurso jurídico utiliza termos técnicos de difícil compreensão.
Legal discourse uses technical terms that are difficult to understand.
Adjective 'jurídico'.
A ideologia está impregnada em cada fragmento do discurso.
Ideology is impregnated in every fragment of the discourse.
Passive 'está impregnada'.
O autor recorre ao discurso direto livre para dar fluidez à narrativa.
The author resorts to free direct speech to give fluidity to the narrative.
Literary technique.
O discurso inflamado do ativista mobilizou a multidão.
The activist's inflamed speech mobilized the crowd.
Adjective 'inflamado'.
É preciso analisar as condições de produção do discurso.
It is necessary to analyze the conditions of production of the discourse.
Sociolinguistic concept.
A arqueologia do discurso, segundo Foucault, investiga as regras de formação dos enunciados.
The archaeology of discourse, according to Foucault, investigates the rules of formation of statements.
Philosophical reference.
O discurso contemporâneo é marcado pela fragmentação e pela pós-verdade.
Contemporary discourse is marked by fragmentation and post-truth.
Abstract societal analysis.
A eficácia do discurso persuasivo reside na sua capacidade de ressonância emocional.
The effectiveness of persuasive discourse lies in its capacity for emotional resonance.
Complex noun phrase.
Subjacente ao discurso oficial, percebe-se uma tensão latente.
Underlying the official discourse, a latent tension is perceived.
Adverb 'subjacente'.
O discurso performativo não apenas descreve a realidade, mas a institui.
Performative discourse does not just describe reality, but institutes it.
Speech act theory.
A proliferação de discursos contraditórios gera uma saturação informacional.
The proliferation of contradictory discourses generates informational saturation.
Sociological observation.
O discurso místico busca expressar o inefável através de metáforas.
Mystic discourse seeks to express the ineffable through metaphors.
Thematic adjective 'místico'.
A análise crítica do discurso desvela as relações de poder assimétricas.
Critical discourse analysis unveils asymmetrical power relations.
Methodological term.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
— To change one's story or position to suit the situation.
— A story or excuse that is hard to believe; nonsense (Brazilian idiom).
— Often used sarcastically to mean 'fine words but no action'.
— To lose one's train of thought during a speech.
— A speech that hides the true intentions.
— Being very eloquent or ready with arguments.
— Elevator pitch (modern loan translation).
— To be forced to accept what was said or to stop speaking.
— A masterfully delivered speech.
— To try to convince others of a specific narrative.
Leicht verwechselbar
Satzmuster
So verwendest du es
'Discurso' is more formal than 'fala'.
Usually followed by 'de' (theme) or 'sobre' (subject).
- Saying 'a discurso' (it's masculine).
- Using 'discurso' for a 2-minute chat.
- Forgetting to change verb tenses in reported speech.
- Confusing 'discurso' with 'percurso' (path).
- Using 'falar um discurso' (correct is 'fazer' or 'proferir').
Tipps
Expand your verbs
Embrace 'proferir' for formal writing. It elevates your Portuguese significantly compared to the basic 'fazer'.
Indirect Speech Tenses
When reporting a speech, if the main verb is in the past, the reported verb usually moves one step back in time.
Listen to the Greats
Listen to speeches by figures like António Vieira or modern orators to feel the rhythm of Portuguese rhetoric.
Avoid Lectures
Don't tell a friend 'gostei do seu discurso' unless they actually gave a formal talk, or you'll sound like you're mocking them.
CELPE-Bras Tip
In the CELPE-Bras exam, you might be asked to write a speech. Remember to use formal vocatives like 'Senhoras e Senhores'.
The 'S' sound
In Portugal, the 's' in 'discurso' is a 'sh' sound. In Brazil, it's usually a standard 's' unless you're in Rio.
Structure
A good 'discurso' in Portuguese writing usually follows: Saudação, Introdução, Desenvolvimento, Conclusão.
Boi Dormir
Use 'discurso para boi dormir' when you hear a politician making promises you know they won't keep.
Beyond Words
Remember that 'discurso' can mean the whole 'vibe' or 'narrative' of a movement, not just one speech.
Visual Aid
Visualize a 'Disc' (record) playing a 'Course' (speech). Dis-curso.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of 'Discourse' in English. They look almost the same and share the same roots. 'Discurso' is just the Portuguese version.
Wortherkunft
From Latin 'discursus'
Kultureller Kontext
Political speeches are often very passionate and informal compared to European standards.
Brazil has a very strong tradition in 'Análise do Discurso' influenced by French schools.
Formal speeches tend to be more sober and linguistically conservative.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Gesprächseinstiege
"O que você achou do discurso do presidente ontem?"
"Você já teve que fazer um discurso em público?"
"Qual foi o discurso mais emocionante que você já ouviu?"
"Você prefere discursos curtos ou longos?"
"Como se prepara um bom discurso de formatura?"
Tagebuch-Impulse
Escreva um pequeno discurso de agradecimento para um amigo.
Descreva um discurso que mudou sua forma de pensar.
Quais são os elementos de um discurso convincente?
Reflita sobre o impacto do discurso de ódio nas redes sociais.
Imagine que você é um líder mundial; qual seria o seu primeiro discurso?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenDiscurso é uma fala estruturada e formal, enquanto fala é o ato geral de produzir sons de linguagem.
Diz-se 'discurso de ódio'.
É uma técnica literária onde a voz do narrador e da personagem se misturam sem marcas formais.
Não, soaria estranho ou sarcástico, como se a pessoa estivesse dando um sermão.
O plural é 'discursos'.
Pode-se dizer 'fazer um discurso' ou 'proferir um discurso'.
É um substantivo masculino: o discurso.
É um campo de estudo que analisa como a linguagem constrói significados sociais e ideológicos.
É uma fala que tem muitas palavras bonitas, mas pouco conteúdo real ou sinceridade.
Você deve ajustar os pronomes, advérbios de tempo e os tempos verbais (ex: 'vou' vira 'iria').
Teste dich selbst 180 Fragen
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 'discurso' bridges the gap between everyday formal speaking and complex academic analysis of language. Understanding it allows you to navigate social ceremonies, political news, and advanced linguistic concepts in Portuguese.
- Discurso is a masculine noun meaning 'speech' or 'discourse'. It is used for formal talks at events like weddings or political rallies.
- In grammar, it distinguishes between 'discurso direto' (direct quotes) and 'discurso indireto' (reported speech), which is vital for intermediate learners.
- Beyond simple talking, it represents a system of ideas or a narrative, such as 'discurso de ódio' (hate speech) or 'discurso acadêmico'.
- Common verbs used with it include 'fazer' (to make) and 'proferir' (to deliver), the latter being more formal and sophisticated.
Expand your verbs
Embrace 'proferir' for formal writing. It elevates your Portuguese significantly compared to the basic 'fazer'.
Indirect Speech Tenses
When reporting a speech, if the main verb is in the past, the reported verb usually moves one step back in time.
Listen to the Greats
Listen to speeches by figures like António Vieira or modern orators to feel the rhythm of Portuguese rhetoric.
Avoid Lectures
Don't tell a friend 'gostei do seu discurso' unless they actually gave a formal talk, or you'll sound like you're mocking them.
Beispiel
Ele preparou um discurso para a conferência.
Verwandte Inhalte
Dieses Wort in anderen Sprachen
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mehr academic Wörter
a despeito de
A2Ungeachtet; trotz. Dieser Ausdruck wird in formellen Kontexten verwendet, um einen Gegensatz auszudrücken.
a fim
A2Ein Ausdruck, der 'um zu' oder 'mit dem Ziel' bedeutet. Umgangssprachlich bedeutet es 'Lust haben auf'.
a saber
A2Nämlich; das heißt.
a título de exemplo
A2Ein formeller Ausdruck, der 'beispielshalber' oder 'als Beispiel' bedeutet. Er wird oft in der Schriftsprache verwendet.
abordagem
A2Eine Herangehensweise ist eine Methode, etwas anzugehen. Es beschreibt, wie man mit einer Sache umgeht. (Die Herangehensweise ist die Art und Weise, wie man ein Problem löst.)
abordar
B1Ein Thema oder eine Person ansprechen.
abreviar
B1To shorten (a word, phrase, or text).
abreviatura
B1A shortened form of a word or phrase.
abstração
B1The quality of dealing with ideas rather than events.
abstracto
B1In Gedanken oder als Idee existierend, aber ohne physische oder konkrete Existenz.
